LONG BEACH — For Takuma Sato, the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach is special.

It’s not just because the event is one of the Verizon Indycar Series marquee races — second in stature and tradition only behind the Indianapolis 500 — but more because he scored his first victory here in 2013 in dominating fashion while driving for A.J. Foyt Enterprises.

Sato, the reigning Indy 500 winner, hopes to repeat those memories when he competes at the 44th Long Beach Grand Prix this weekend.

“I just love this venue,” Sato said during a media function in Long Beach last week. “This is the place you want to win. There’s such history and tradition here. I have such good memories, winning here in 2013.

“I’ve (haven’t) been back to the podium here since. But hopefully this is the year.”

Sato, who is driving for Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing this season after one season at Andretti Autosport in 2017, came to IndyCar in 2010 after six seasons driving for three teams in Formula One. He comes to Long Beach after enjoying his best season in 2017, where he finished eighth in points and put himself on the world stage by becoming the first Japanese driver to win the Indy 500.

He credits a lot of that success to Andretti Autosport and team owner Michael Andretti, a former driver who also made a solid transition from Formula One to American open-wheel racing.

“Michael gave me a great opportunity to race for his team,” Sato said. “The team has great history, with many wins, particularly the (Indy) 500. It was a happy moment (to join the team).

“Michael didn’t necessarily give me any tips or advice, but he gave me a great environment, where I could really focus. As a (former) driver, he knows what drivers need. If anything is wrong, you can go straight to him, which is what’s fantastic about him.”

It got a bit more thrilling last May for Sato, who rewarded Andretti’s faith in him with the win in Indianapolis. It was the team’s fifth Indy win since 2005 and its third in the past four seasons.

Sato pulled it off with a late-race pass and beat veteran Helio Castroneves by two seconds.

“It was an incredible moment,” Sato said. “It’s the most-significant moment in my lifetime. And it’s just a dream come true.

“To be the first Asian driver to win the Indy 500 is such an honor. I always dreamed of it. It was just a special moment. I’ve had a busy winter.”

Part of that was the whirlwind tour that goes with winning the world’s most famous race, but despite all the success with Andretti, he switched teams. He signed with Rahal Letterman Lanigan, with whom he drove in 2012 when he nearly won at Indianapolis before a last-lap crash.
Takuma Sato during the IndyCar auto race Saturday, April 7, 2018, at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

‘It’s just a great opportunity,” Sato said of the move. “(Co-team owner Bobby Rahal) has been so supportive of me since we worked together (in 2012). We had worked on different sides since 2013, but he’s always wanted me back.

“It’s a great opportunity to be back home. I feel very positive.”

He also believes it was the right move for his development in the series.

“As a driver, you want to be always improving, moving forward,” Sato said. “From an athlete’s point of view, your physicals, mentals and your skills should be better than where I was in 2012, I hope. The team has made a significant step forward, too. I can see a very strong engineering side and there’s quality people on the team.”

Sato, who was eighth in points last season with the one win and seven top 10 finishes, has had lukewarm results during the first two races. He was 12th at St. Petersburg (Florida) in the season opener in March and 11th last week in Phoenix.

“We’re all positive,” Sato said. “It’s a new team, so there is some adjustment, but we’ve been competitive. Hopefully, we can bring that to Long Beach.”